Stories of daring, stories of technological feats, stories of prevailing against the odds ... these are the stories we tell at the National Air and Space Museum. Dive in to the stories below to discover, learn, and be inspired. 

Showing 551 - 560 of 1759

Cyan AirSpace logo above "Voyage to Mars" in white, lowercase text

January 19, 2021

Voyages to Mars: Searching

Story | Voyages to Mars

The search for life is a pillar of Mars exploration. But our search isn’t only confined to the planets of our solar system. Radio telescopes search for signals of intelligent life from far away planets, orbiting other stars. In his story, “The Great Silence,” science fiction author Ted Chiang features the Arecibo telescope as he considers the significance of the animal life that surrounds it.

Composite of two flyby views of Mercury

January 14, 2021

Mercury, The Not So Shrunken Planet

Story | Research Highlights

Based on my research, which include image composites of two flyby views of Mercury from the MESSENGER spacecraft, I conclude that Mercury has not cooled and shrunken as much as previously thought.

Purple and pink logo of AirSpace

January 14, 2021

Bonus! AirSpace Presents NOVA Now

Story | AirSpace Podcast

Satellites from NASA and private companies are making headlines. What’s their history and how might their future affect space and life here on Earth?

Carruthers holding film cassettes

January 08, 2021

George Robert Carruthers: Astronautical Engineer and Astronomer

Story

Astronautical engineer and astronomer George Robert Carruthers, a name well-known and dearly regarded in the space science community, and a good friend of the National Air and Space Museum, passed away on Saturday, December 26 after a long illness.

Photo postcard. Left: beach with palm trees. Right graphic drawings of Santa Claus over preprinted text: "Merry Christmas" Handwritten signature. Preprinted text: "Arthur Clarke"

December 31, 2020

Celebrating the Holidays with Arthur C. Clarke

Story | From the Archives

As I have been scanning the correspondence that science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke received over his lifetime, a constant staple of correspondence always crops up near the end of a year. These being the abundant number of Christmas cards Clarke would get around the holidays.

Man stands in front of spacesuit replica

December 30, 2020

Wonder Woman and the Smithsonian

Story

Explore the history of Wonder Woman and the Smithsonian, including how Wonder Woman 1984 was filmed at three Smithsonian museums.

Jim Preston on backseat of jet

December 26, 2020

Glistening Pride

Story

I had to hold back my emotions as I photographed the blue and gold F/A-18C Hornet aircraft approaching the Udvar-Hazy Center on November 18, 2020, by the realization that my photography career had, in some way, just come full circle. My journey began back in 1973 when I had the good fortune of being assigned as the photographer for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team.

AirSpace, a podcast, logo

December 24, 2020

AirSpace Season 3|Ep.12
Never Surrender

Story | AirSpace Podcast

It’s safe to say that the AirSpace pod loves Galaxy Quest, but doesn’t everyone!? It has it all: sci-fi, action, and comedy, an underdog who saves the day, and feel good story with space aliens! For the Trekkies among us, it’s an unswerving love letter to the importance of fans in any successful franchise. In the final episode of season 3, Emily, Matt, and Nick discuss why this is the movie to watch with your family this holiday season.

A screenshot of a computer generated image of Santa flying through Chicago

December 24, 2020

Yes, NORAD Says There is a Santa Claus

Story

How did a misdialed phone number lead to a holiday tradition.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh wearing her Spaulding & Bros. leather helmet

December 22, 2020

All Dressed Up: A Study of Stearate Growth Occurring on Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Leather Flight Helmet

Story | Inside the Conservation Lab

In 2018, a peculiar condition phenomenon was observed on the helmet of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and it was removed from display for examination and conservation. An investigation into the cause of the condition issue is reviewed.